New reports are stating that Peyton Manning's neck surgery is not healing as quickly as they thought. The nerves in his neck haven't regenerated yet and is behind schedule. Manning is scheduled for a checkup December 1, so no major rehab until then.

The question for the Colts is, what to do with Peyton now? The Colts could conceivably trade or release him. Manning is getting older and his neck appears to be the beginning of the end of his career and with Andrew Luck waiting in the wings, perhaps now is the time to make a move.

Manning is to Indianapolis what Favre was to Green Bay. He turned this once hapless franchise into a constant winning team. The reason the Colts got their new stadium was because of Manning and his winning ways. Before Manning, Indiana was a basketball state with the Hoosiers and Pacers, but now the Colts are the biggest team in the state. Favre was eventually traded from Green Bay after it became apparent that he wasn't the same player anymore and the Packers move payed off big time. Aaron Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in football and Favre struggled in New York and Minnesota, save for his first year in Minnesota.

Will there be any takers for Manning? Probably. However, he won't be the same player. Manning thrived under the Colts no huddle and complex offense and moving him to another team means you won't get the same Peyton Manning. Manning also won't have his corps of receivers. Reggie Wayne has been his main target for years and turned him into the receiver he is today. Dallas Clark won't be there. So won't Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez. Manning would need to start all over because his new team would never use the Colts complex offense.

I don't believe Manning will be released. There are more than enough takers for Manning and it would be a sad day when one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL gets released. Also, the Colts would need to shell out a lot of money to terminate the contract of Peyton Manning and the Colts would just rather trade him.

The Peyton Manning era is growing to be more and more likely by the day and it is certainly going to be a sad end to a great era.